Blockbuster in Britain will start selling mobile phones, iPods and television
sets as well as renting DVDs and games to ensure its survival after its US
parent company filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday.

Gerry Butler, Blockbuster UK’s commercial director, said that the operations
in Britain were not affected by the parent company’s pre-arranged Chapter 11
filing in the United States, which will greatly reduce its near-$1 billion
debt mountain.

The 605 Blockbuster stores in Britain would remain open and continue trading
for the time being, Mr Butler said, although he did not rule out store
closures in future.